Capture Shield for Disarming Gunman

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for disarming an armed intruder by using a capture shield of a type comprising a bullet resistant shield having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front and a back and at least one hook operatively attached to the front of the shield for engaging and holding the shield to an armed intruder when the shield is pushed against such intruder. The method for using the capture shield comprises (a) grasping the capture shield, (b) positioning the capture shield between a user and an armed intruder with the front of the capture shield having the at least one hook thereon facing the armed intruder; (c) moving towards the armed intruder while holding the capture shield to minimize the possibility of being shot by the intruder; and (d) pushing the capture shield against the armed intruder to cause the at least one hook to engage the intruder and/or the intruder&#39;s clothing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for disarming a gunman and more particularly to such a method and apparatus which does not involve the use of firearms in order to accomplish such task.

BACKGROUND

In the United States in recent years, there have been several instances deranged individuals have entered public places such as schools, theaters, shopping malls or the like for the purpose of shooting and killing innocent people. In the case of at least one school shooting, un-armed teachers tried to disarm a shooter but were killed by the gunman in the process.

Various proposals have been put forward by law abiding citizens to protect innocent children and teachers in schools, such as providing armed guards or certification of certain teachers or administrative staff to carry guns to provide security to discourage such deranged gunmen and/or to disarm or kill them if they do enter a school and start shooting innocent people. While there are many people in favor of such possible solution to the problem, there are many people who do not favor armed guards or armed teachers as a solution to the problem.

One solution suggested to solve the problem has been for teachers to have bullet proof shields. The problem is that while such shields may offer temporary protection, a person with a shield cannot disarm a shooter and the closer the person with the shield is to the shooter the more likely they are to be shot by an armed intruder.

Accordingly there is a need for a workable solution to the problem that will be an acceptable alternative to those people who do not want armed guards/teachers in schools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and apparatus for disarming an armed intruder by using a capture shield of a type comprising a bullet resistant shield having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front and a back and at least one hook operatively attached to the front of the shield for engaging and holding the shield to an armed intruder when the shield is pushed against such intruder. The method for using the capture shield comprises (a) grasping the capture shield, (b) positioning the capture shield between a user and an armed intruder with the front of the capture shield having the at least one hook thereon facing the armed intruder; (c) moving towards the armed intruder while holding the capture shield to minimize the possibility of being shot by the intruder; and (d) pushing the capture shield against the armed intruder to cause the at least one hook to engage the intruder and/or the intruder's clothing. A user would then securely hold the capture shield to minimize escape of the armed intruder from the grasp of the at least one hook attached to the armed intruder, thereby making it difficult for the armed intruder to use a weapon against the user of the shield or against others in close proximity to the intruder.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from one side and the front of a capture shield constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the capture shield of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a capture shield constructed in accordance with the present invention being used to charge an armed intruder while being protected from being shot by the armed intruder;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a capture shield of FIGS. 1-3 showing the attachment of the capture shield to the armed intruder for holding the armed intruder and minimizing the possibility of being shot by the armed intruder;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of that portion of the capture shield shown by the circled part 5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but showing how a treble fishing hook is sewn to a front cloth layer of the capture shield and how the hook can pivot so as to easily engage an armed intruder's clothing when pushed against such armed intruder;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view similar to FIG. 7 but in the position the treble hook would be biased to before engaging an armed intruder;

FIG. 8A is an enlarged cross sectional view similar to FIG. 8 but showing an alternate embodiment using a compression spring to hold the treble hook in the position shown before it is pushed against an armed intruder;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of an alternate form of a hook that can be used instead of the treble hook shown in FIGS. 1-7;

FIG. 8 c is a perspective view of an alternate form of a regular single fishing type hook that can be used instead of the treble hook shown in FIGS. 1-7; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a classroom having a case holding a capture shield constructed in accordance with the present invention in it, which case being locked so that students cannot have access to the capture shield yet making it accessible to a teacher for use in case an armed intruder enters the school in which the classroom is located;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational cross sectional view like FIG. 6 but of an alternate pivoting hook embodiment in the position it would be in before pushing it against an armed intruder;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational cross sectional view like FIG. 10 but showing the an alternate pivoting hook embodiment in a locked position that it would be in after pushing it against an armed intruder, showing how the hook is locked in engagement with an armed intruder's clothing; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing how the alternate pivoting hook embodiment is pivotally attached to a rod or wire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a capture shield 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The capture shield 10 is constructed of the layers shown in FIG. 6, with an inner core 11 of a solid bullet resistant material such as LEXAN® a registered trademark a brand of polycarbonate resin thermoplastic. LEXAN® can be purchased in a polycarbonate sheet and resin in a wide range of grades one of which is used for bullet-resistant windows. A fabric layer 12 surrounds the LEXAN® layer, the fabric layer 12 being made preferably of a material marketed under the trademark KEVLAR®, a trademark used for a type of aramid fiber of the type used in “bullet proof” vests for law enforcement personnel for example as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,700,503 to Thomas; 7,100,490 to Muller; 4,822,657 to Simpson; 7,700,503 to Thomas, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Other bullet resistant materials can be used instead of the ones disclosed above.

Another cloth layer 13 is sewn to the bullet resistant fabric layer 12 by stitches 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

FIGS. 1-5 show handles 16 on the back of the shield 10 and a window 17 so that the user can see through the capture shield 10 while using it in the fashion shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, which will be explained further below.

Looking now to FIGS. 5-7, a plurality of treble hooks 20 are attached to the front of the capture shield 10 by using a cable, rod or wire 18 that is sewn to the fabric 13 by stitches 19, the cable, rod or wire 18 extending through a circular loop 20 c at one end of each one of the treble hooks 20. The treble hooks 20 of course have three hooks 20 h, each having a barb 20 b so that when the hooks extend through an intruder's clothing or skin the hooks 20 h will not easily be removed.

FIG. 8A shows an alternative embodiment where the treble hooks 20 can have a compression spring 22 that holds the treble hook 20 in the position shown in the position of FIG. 8A until it is pushed against an intruder.

FIG. 8B shows another alternative embodiment where a sheet metal plate 120 has tabs first punched out as shown on the left and then the ends 120 h are formed into hooks as an alternative to hooks 20 shown in FIGS. 1-7.

FIG. 8C shows still another alternative embodiment where a fabric 213 single hooks 220 as an alternative to the treble hooks 20 shown in FIGS. 1-7.

Looking to FIG. 9, a perspective view of part of a school classroom is shown having a case 30 for holding a capture shield 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention in it, which case 30 can be locked so that students cannot have access to the capture shield 10 yet making it accessible to a teacher for use in case an armed intruder enters the school in which the classroom is located. The case 30 includes a frame 31 attached to the wall of the classroom and a door 32 is pivotally or otherwise attached to the frame 31 with a door knob 33 for use in opening the door 32 so that a teacher can have access to the capture shield 10. The door 33 can be used as a bulletin board to hold paper documents 34 if desired so it will look more like something functional that belongs in a classroom so as to disguise to some extent the fact that it contains a capture shield 10. The case 30 could alternatively be attached to the front side of a teacher's desk, under a false desk top or hidden in a closet.

If an armed intruder were to enter the school containing a classroom like that shown in FIG. 9, a teacher or someone having access to the capture shield 10 in case 30 would open the door 32 and remove the capture shield 10. The user would then (a) grasp the capture shield 10 by the handles 16, (b)

position the capture shield 10 between a user on the left side of FIG. 3 and an armed intruder as shown on the right side in FIG. 3, with the front of the capture shield 10 having the hooks 20 thereon facing the armed intruder; (c) move towards the armed intruder while holding the capture shield 10 to minimize the possibility of being shot by the intruder; and (d) push the capture shield 10 against the armed intruder on the right side as shown in FIG. 4 to cause the at hooks 10 to engage the intruder and/or the intruder's clothing. A user, on the left side of FIG. 4, would then securely hold the capture shield 10 in the position shown in FIG. 4 to minimize escape of the armed intruder from the grasp of the hooks 20 attached to the armed intruder, thereby making it difficult for the armed intruder to use a weapon against the user of the shield or against others in close proximity to the intruder.

Referring now to the alternate pivoting hook embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-12, a hook 320 has a hook end 320 h and a stop end 320 s, connected together by a helical portion center portion 320 c. The pivoting hook is disposed on a shaft, wire or cable 18 so it can pivot from the initial position shown in FIG. 10 to the locked position shown in FIG. 11. In operation, when the shield is used as shown in FIG. 3, the hooks 320 would be in the position shown in FIG. 10. But when the user pushes the shield against the armed intruder as shown in FIG. 4, the solid bullet resistant KEVLAR® plate 11 would be pushed against the stop member 320 s, pushing the stop member past the inside of the washer 21 to the position shown in FIG. 11. This can be done because the stop member 320 s is flexible and will bend to some extent as it passes though the washer 21, but will then be trapped in the position shown in FIG. 11. At the same time that the stop member 320 s pivots between the FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 positions, the hook part 320 h also gets pushed through the armed intruder's clothing 15 and then pivots to the locked position shown in FIG. 11, making it impossible for the armed intruder to remove the shield from his clothing.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

1. A capture shield comprising: (a) a bullet resistant shield having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front and a back; and (b) at least one hook operatively attached to the front of the shield for engaging and holding the shield to an armed intruder when the shield is pushed against such intruder.
 2. The capture shield of claim 1 wherein the hook has at least one barb thereon for inhibiting removal of the hook from whatever it becomes attached to.
 3. The capture shield of claim 1 wherein there are multiple hooks operatively attached to the front of the shield.
 4. The capture shield of claim 1 wherein the hook is a treble hook of the type commonly used for fishing.
 5. The capture shield of claim 4 wherein there are multiple hooks operatively attached to the front of the shield.
 6. The capture shield of claim 1 wherein the shield is comprised of the material that is marketed under the trademark of KEVLAR®.
 7. The capture shield of claim 6 wherein the shield has a first solid layer of the material that is marketed under the trademark of KEVLAR® covered in the front thereof by a layer of cloth material of the type that is also marketed under the trademark of KEVLAR®.
 8. The capture shield of claim 7 wherein the cloth material is disposed between the first solid layer of material that is marketed under the trademark of KEVLAR® and a second cloth covering that has the at least one hook attached thereto.
 9. The capture shield of claim 8 second cloth covering is sewn to the layer of cloth material of the type that is also marketed under the trademark of KEVLAR®.
 10. The capture shield of claim 1 disposed in a security case which can be opened only by persons with authority to do so.
 11. The capture shield of claim 10 wherein the security case is attached to a wall.
 12. The capture shield of claim 11 wherein the security case has a bulletin board of the type used in schools on an access door.
 13. The capture shield of claim 1 further comprising handles operatively attached to the capture shield and accessible to a user adjacent the rear of the capture shield.
 14. The capture shield of claim 1 further comprising a window in the capture shield so that a user can cover the user's head and still see the intruder.
 15. A method of using a capture shield of a type comprising a bullet resistant shield having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front and a back and at least one hook operatively attached to the front of the shield for engaging and holding the shield to an armed intruder when the shield is pushed against such intruder, said method comprising: (a) grasping the capture shield; (b) positioning the capture shield between a user and an armed intruder with the front of the capture shield having the at least one hook thereon facing the armed intruder; (c) moving towards the armed intruder while holding the capture shield to minimize the possibility of being shot by the intruder; and (d) pushing the capture shield against the armed intruder to cause the at least one hook to engage the intruder and/or the intruder's clothing.
 16. The method of claim 15 including securely holding the capture shield to minimize escape of the armed intruder from the grasp of the at least one hook attached to the armed intruder, thereby making it difficult for the armed intruder to use a weapon against the user of the shield or against others in close proximity to the intruder. 